Abstract [en]

Background: Unbearable psychological pain, lack of desire to live and suicide are public health problems. Earlier studies have shown that there are many factors that increase the risk for suicide. The field of research in protective factors for suicide has been rather unexplored, in comparison. By increasing the knowledge the protective factors there can be an increased resilience before future challenges in psychiatric care.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to describe the protective factors that can strengthen the viability in suicidal persons.

Method: A systematic review of literature of ten studies with qualitative approach was used. Data analysis was performed based on the descriptive method invented by Evans.

Results: Three themes where identified as protective factors for suicidal persons: Contact, Turning points and Coping. For each theme, different subthemes has been identified: Contact: family and friends, contact with oneself, spiritual contact, other communities; Turning points: new insights, participation; Coping: future goals, role model, healthy behaviour, suffering and suicidal thoughts as coping.

Discussion: The nurse’s role is to protect life itself, to ease suffering, to instil hope, to promote health and into the longest increase the viability in suicidal patients. The psychiatric care needs to assimilate new knowledge from the Science of care in terms of treatment of patients and protective factors. Furthermore, to better understand the psychology of suicide and to counteract taboo, which still revolves around suicide.